Things that you need to know

If you are a parent, you definitely want your child to develop and to be able to distinguish between the things he or she likes or does not like to do. One way of helping them to sort out their preferences is by trying out as many new experiences as possible.

Let them draw and you will know if they like it. Let them dance and you will know if this is what they were seeking for. You may also find music classes for them to try playing a musical instrument. You never know, maybe this is what your child or children were born for.

If your desire is to convince your child to learn how to play a musical instrument, then you have to know how to do this. Children usually listen to their parents’ opinion only if their mom and dad make the opinion sound as if taken straight out of their children’s head.

Choose an instrument

Ask your child questions. Try to find out what instrument sound he or she likes most. Do not do it as if you already have a plan in your mind. Children usually do not stick to their parents’ plans. Just communicate. And, one day, ask your little one what instrument he/she would love to play. Children are very curious and there are few cases in which one will say “no” to trying something this interesting.

Encourage and help

Do not just leave your son or daughter with their teacher and go do your tasks. Stay with them, especially in the beginning. Encourage them, show your interest. Children feel great when they see that their parents want to be near them and it makes them want to continue practicing. Be their biggest fan.

Songs

Help your child choose the songs that he/she would like to learn. Pick something easy to begin with and change the songs as soon as your beloved one knows the actual ones pretty good. Change the level for the next songs and, remember, do not ever choose a song that your child does not like. They never do what they do not want to do!

Do not force

If you want your child to play a musical instrument, do not ever force him/her to do this. Children get enough “musts” at school. Make it different. Create a distinction between the things that have to be done and the things that your child really wants to do! Moreover, let your son or daughter choose the practice schedule. It may be very important, since children are usually told what to do, not to decide for themselves. This can prove to your child that you trust him or her.

Despite misconceptions, country music isn’t only heard and appreciated in the South. There are country influences in almost all music genres and plenty of talented singers give credit to country music as having an important role in their development as artists.

And, even though for the past few decades country music has decreased in popularity, it has been brought to the mainstream attention once more thanks to appreciated singers and songwriters such as Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift. So I figured it would be interesting to tell you a little bit more about my top choices of country music singers.

Johnny Cash

You can’t say country music without referring to one of the most influential people of the 20th century. Johnny Cash was a vocalist, guitarist, and American songwriter known for his trademark low voice.

He received numerous awards as a recognition to his influence in country music, with some of his most known songs being “I Walk The Line”, “That Old Wheel”, “Cocaine Blues”, and “Man In Black”. He gained the nickname “The Man in Black” because he always wore black and dark-colored clothes.

The biographical movie about the life of Johnny Cash was released in 2005, two years after the singer’s death. “Walk The Line”, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, was nominated for five Oscars and three Golden Globes. It won one Oscar and all three Golden Globes nominalizations.

Dolly Parton

Along with Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton remains the most influential figure in modern country music. She is a singer, a songwriter, a record producer, an actress, author, musician, and business executive. She was heavily influenced by gospel music and plenty of her earlier performances took place in churches.

Throughout her career, Dolly released no fewer than 43 albums, with one of the most popular being “Jolene”, released in 1974. “Jolene” remains one of Parton’s most famous songs and was covered by dozens of artists over the years. She is also the godmother of famous singer and actress Miley Cyrus.

Lady Antebellum

Formed in Nashville in 2006, Lady Antebellum remains one of the today’s most renowned country music bands. Their unique sound combined with great vocals and a touch of sensitivity turned the band into a hit.

The band is one of the few to have exported their success over the American border, with their most known song, “Need You Now” reaching no. 2 in Billboard’s Hot 100 Tracks. The single was certified platinum and, soon, Lady Antebellum released an entire new album and performed on some of the most popular American TV shows and sports events.

Bonus: The Death South

The Death South is, in my opinion, one of the coolest and freshest country bands in the past few years. The Canadian music ensemble identifies with different music genres, from folk-bluegrass to country, indie, and more. The band also had a banjo player who left in 2015.

Nevertheless, their music is both serious and funny at the same time and their number one hit, “In Hell, I’ll Be in Good Company” became a YouTube sensation thanks to the great video.

With Christmas just around the corner, I’m sure you already did most of the shopping. However, finding the perfect gift for your kid is not an easy task, especially given the huge amount of things you can find in stores nowadays. So, if you’re still in doubt about picking the right present for the little one, maybe the following tips & tricks will help you easily decide on what’s best for your kid.

Although most of the kids nowadays think letters are obsolete, it is best to still keep some of the Christmas magic hanging and ask your kid to write a real letter to Santa. Kids tend to be extremely concise in wishes and write down only the important things they really wish they would receive.

This is a great method to not only practice handwriting, but also find out more about your children’s passions and what’s new in terms of toys and gadgets. Plus, it will save you some useless trips to the shopping mall trying to guess what your kids want based on their reactions to the toy departments.

Legos and puzzles

If the previous tip failed or your kid’s wishes are way above your budget, you can never go wrong with some new Lego and puzzle games. These are the perfect games to develop your kids’ creativity and imagination while providing endless combinations of things they can build. Ever since the toy company released its first interlocking toy bricks back in 1949, millions of children worldwide learned to use limited resources and enrich their imagination by creating new toys each time.

Board games

Board games are perfect for when you have more kids and you want them to keep quiet for long hours. They are also good for children reunions to keep them away from boredom or to complete family nights. Board games improve children’s creativity and logic, helping them develop strategies and an analytic thinking. They could last for hours but will certainly become indispensable at family reunions or birthday parties, so I suggest looking for the coolest ones this season.

And, since Christmas is approaching, you could also take a look at the board games specific for the holiday season, as I am certain you are going to find at least one that is interesting and fun to play.

Artsy crafts sets

If your kid is into DIY projects, probably one of the coolest presents you can purchase for them is a creative set to help them develop more of their creativity. From sewing to knitting or building, craft sets can even turn your kid’s passion into a future job.

Book nerds are wonderful people that have a great personality and sense of humor. The reason why we fail to see these positive aspects is that they prefer to read a book and sip from a tea mug in a nice and quiet place. Even though they like to be left alone, no one will ever say no to a special gift that comes from the heart.

Because it’s difficult to understand a geek’s nature, we have a hard time deciding on the perfect item to give them as a present. Fortunately, lots of online stores have tons of cool stuff that suit perfectly the personal needs and preferences of a bookworm. Showcased below you’ll find a top list of suggestions that you can use next time you need to get a present that won’t disappoint the receiver.

An explorer’s guide to the hidden treasures of the world

The majority of books geeks are fascinated about books that cover all sorts of beautiful locations from all over the world because they feel like virtually traveling while reading them. So it’s quite a great idea getting them a book that doesn’t look like a traditional travel guide. Instead, it gives you hints about places that are not so famous and less crowded with tourists. Basically, it’s like having a useful local guide that shows you what’s actually cool to see and not what all people want to visit.

Also, a book like this covers all the continents so that it’s impossible to ever get bored. The best part is this written gem doesn’t necessarily encourage people to book a ticket and travel but to learn new things and expand their cultural horizons.

Solar lantern for reading

Now, this is a real lifesaver for any book lover out there. It happens a lot especially when you find an excellent book that really captures your interest and you forget about time. Some people enjoy reading books at night because it’s the only moment when they feel relaxed. Plus, it’s quieter and almost no chance to be disturbed.

A solar lantern that can be deflated and folded comes in handy if you’re on the road, camping with your RV. The best part is that it is completely waterproof and shatterproof and features different lighting modes to choose from.

Secret library door

This gift is truly magnificent because it gives the user the possibility to have its own bookshelf that swings open and reveals a hidden door. The door provides access to a room that can be used as a private reading room, a secret passageway or a pantry.

A product of this kind comes with clear instructions that allow you to customize the door according to your space and other elements of design.

It is said that having a newborn will complete your life as a mother, and will give greater meaning to your family life as well. And while all that seems magnificent, how many of you mothers and fathers out there didn’t feel like losing it at least once in the first few months?

All the baby screamings, constant eating, and changing diapers doesn’t seem like my type of week, but I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. Well, maybe just for an afternoon off, a hot bubble bath, and a large glass of rose wine.

However, being a new parent does have its perks as well, meaning you get to receive a lot of gifts for the baby shower and the upcoming birthdays. And, while most of them will happen to be for the baby itself, one can only dream of something actually useful, or at least funny, for the parents too. Anyway, I made a list with some of the funniest baby gifts I know I would want to receive for my upcoming baby shower (wink, wink).

A new stroller

I know it’s an expensive gift but just think for a second about all the spending I have to on my list just by taking this baby out of me. If you want to make a considerable gift to a new parent, buy a baby stroller. These cool baby strollers may come in handy if you’re running out of ideas.

Again, not entirely for the parents, but I cannot resist buying tons of onesies and bodies for that little fellow. They are simply adorable, and some of them can make the parents laugh too. What I like is that all of them are made from soft and breathable fabrics, so my baby won’t get rashes or irritations while wearing them and looking cool.

Trust me; a cool baby onesie will be a great gift for parents too because, let’s face it, people are the ones seeing it, not the baby itself.

It may seem like childish, but there are some very cool “mom life” coloring books depicting every story that has happened or will happen to you, as a new parent. So why not cut some slacks and get a good laugh once in a while? But if you manage to perfectly color more than a couple of pages in a month, you may want to look after your baby more.

Funny T-shirts for parents

Sometimes you want to brag about your parent skills, so what better way to do so than by letting your outfit speaking for you? With just a quick online browse you will find thousands of shops selling funny t-shirts to wear while shopping, day caring, taking your child to kindergarten, and others. I got mine saying “World’s Number 1 Okayest Mom” because, well, I have bad days too.